FIDDLESTICKS - Order of Ecumenical Franciscans

Inside this Issue:

• My God and My All - St. Francis of Assisi

• An Invitation from OLF

• Servant Team Meeting Minutes - 9/13/15

• Brother Rat’s Rule Report

• Words from Teresa of Avila

• Seeking Second Round of Proposed Amendments

• A Message From Our Minister General

• Regional News

• Formation Station

• A Prayer for the Earth - Laudato Si!

“My God and My All” – St Francis of Assisi By Mark Whitten, n/OEF

Editor’s note: The following was offered by Mark as a lay reflection at

St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church near his home in Hermosa, MS

It was in the year 1209. [This was before the saint had obtained any

followers, about two years after the now famous vision that St Francis

had at the San Damiano cross where he received direction to “rebuild

my church which, you can see, is in ruin.”] Francis had occupied

himself largely with a literal interpretation of that holy commission and

was physically restoring abandoned chapels in the Italian countryside.

Francis had also cast off all previously held privileges of class and

family wealth in exchange for a simple, poor, life that he vowed to live

completely for God

A wealthy lord, Bernard of Quintavalle, took notice of the harsh, poor

living condition of Francis and also the public mockery that he endured

with happy patience (some actually thought that Francis had lost his

mind). Bernard recognized that Francis possessed tremendous grace

and decided to invite him into his home to learn more.

That night, after dinner, Bernard had a guest bed brought to his own

room. Bernard intended to test the holiness of Francis by secretly

observing him through the night. As it was, both men pretended sleep,

Bernard to hide his secret intentions, Francis to hide his prayer

communion with God. After a short time, when Francis believed

Bernard to be asleep, he arose in the early night, knelt, and began to

adore God with the simple prayer “My God and my all” repeated gently,

over and over throughout the remainder of the night.

Bernard observed the tremendous devotion that Francis had for God

and while meditating on his words and actions was touched in the heart

by the Holy Spirit and inspired to change his life. This event lead to the

conversion of Lord Bernard who thereafter sold his possessions and

followed Francis as the first of what would soon become many Friars

Minor.

Francis recognized himself as a creation of God and learned to see the

imprint of God in all those around him. What did he mean when he

prayed the simple “My God and my all”? Was he acknowledging that all

that he had came from God? Was he promising to give his whole self to

God? Was he admitting his weakness, his need for God's grace in every

occasion? Did he realize that God was in him and he in God?

(Continued on page 2)

Newsletter of The Order of Ecumenical Franciscans

FIDDLESTICKS Issue 116 Francistide 2015

I believe that it was some of these and something

more, something currently beyond my consideration,

resulting from his direct communion with God while

in deep prayer.

In our Christian lives today, Jesus places two

commandments above all others. In Mark 12 verses

29 through 31 when asked, Jesus said:

“... The most important commandment is this:

'Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and

only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God

with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and

all your strength.' The Second is equally important: ‘

Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other command-

ment is greater than these.”

How do we experience love? How do we love our

neighbor as ourselves? Who, in this case, is our

neighbor?

As a Lay Franciscan, the order that I am in

formation with requires me to have a personal rule

of life that challenges me to be in alignment with

the general principles of the order. The last sentence

of my personal rule reads “I seek the beauty and grace of

Christ in all of my brothers and sisters, recognizing that our

differences make us whole in community with the help of

our Lord Christ.” This directly relates to Christ's

commandment to love our neighbor as ourselves.

This is our challenge, to see the imprint of our

loving creator in all people. Not just our family, not

just our friends, not just our fellow parishioners, all

people.

Easier said than done. Certainly, I strive to treat my

loved ones with respect, patience, dignity. But at the

same time, I find myself quite guarded with strangers,

uncomfortable in new places, uncertain and

judgmental, my human nature is full of internally

voiced assumptions when I meet anyone that is

obviously different than I.

How can I silence this internal monologue that

categorizes and judges everyone that is a strange

neighbor to me?

I know for certain that I will not meet everyone fairly

in Christian love without the help of God, I've

acknowledged that it is not in my human nature.

I have found some notable success as I continue to

develop a discipline of relying on God in all situations

that cause me anxiety.

I have discovered Francis' simple prayer to be very

practical. “My God and my all”. It is powerful to invoke

the presence of God by simply calling out. It is

reassuring to positively acknowledge that all good

things come from God and he is my strength in the face

of human anxiety. It is really hard to not smile and

find joy either in the call to God or in imagining

Francis gently praying this prayer all night long. It is

hard to have our savior and the saint so closely at mind

and heart and still remain critical of the stranger I

might be physically encountering.

When I leave my car, when I enter the store, when I

approach this parish, when I see a stranger in the

distance, while waiting in line, when I encounter the

poor, when I interact with young people or people older

and wiser than myself, I try to keep these words either

quietly vocalized or mentally in time with my breath.

“My God and my all.” This prayer fills my heart with

love and puts a joyful smile on my face.

Please pray with me...

“My God and my all.

My God and my all.”

May the peace of our Lord be with you. Amen.

“My God and My All”… continued

PAGE 2 F IDDLEST ICKS ISSUE 116

ADVENT FRANCISCAN RETREAT

December 10-12, 2015 Shalom Retreat Center, an Institution of The Sisters of St. Francis in Dubuque, Iowa.

Proposed agenda includes:

• A brief study of Pope Francis' recent “Laudato Sii” Encyclical on environmental issues;

• Professor Winston Persaud of Wartburg Theological Seminary, a participant in the

Lutheran/Roman Catholic Dialogues, to facilitate a conversation on the growing

ecumenical relationship among Protestants and the Roman Catholic Church;

• Worship and fellowship

Registration for two nights/six meals is $175 a person (this includes presenter fee).

We need a minimum of five registrations to make this retreat.

The retreat is open to all Franciscan kin.

Registration deadline is Sunday, Nov. 22.

Contact Br. Ron Yarnell (OLF) for more information or to register.

[email protected]


OEF Servant Team 9-13-15

from the Scribe’s desk


Meeting began at 8:00 pm

Shoshanah opens in prayer

Juniper check-in: busy fall, school year, 2 online

courses, 2 standard courses, challenging care issues in

the senior apartments; Br. Derek, SSF died 10 days ago-

Brooklyn memorial will be on 10/4.

Petra check-in: new friendships; new work with a life

coach; worshiping at an Episcopal Church regularly.

Romero [check-in]: fighting with the Trump campaign;

challenging Quakers to speak on racial justice issues

surrounding the presidential campaign; looking for

people of faith to express alternative visions.

Shoshanah [check-in]: youngest son moved to college;

Bruce & Shoshanah moved to new house in

Willimantic. Donating many items to a tag sale at

Bruce’s Church; visiting Sister for a few days before

representing OEF at TSSF and OFS gatherings.

Brs. Elias & Louis Canter representing OEF at

Franciscan Unity planning meeting; Immaculata Retreat

has rescheduled our meeting to November.

CJ [check-in]: ongoing efforts to sell home;

investigating chaplaincy in Nashville, TN area.

JM [check-in] start of school, church, etc.; preserving

and preparing the garden produce.

Items for discernment:

1. OEF conflict resolution process

a. Request that the Minister name a discernment group

to study and propose a set of norms for communication

and conflict transformation:

i. Incorporate Community Covenant, biblical

resources, community resources, meditation training

that is available;

ii. Creating a culture for mending and re-setting

boundaries;

iii. Present the means to Chapter 2016.

2. Response to flagrant racism in the presidential

campaign:

a. Co-minister reflection on website;

b. Draft of a servant team messages/commitments.

3. Formation- 15 inquirers in process.

4. Face to Face Meeting:

a. Helping the community discern about the council;

b. Helping the council discern its tasks;

c. Discerning about reporting;

d. How to give pastoral care to the order as current

servant team.

CJ closes in prayer.

Next meeting: November 1-3, Willimantic, CT at

Immaculata Center.

Peace and All Good,

John Michael Longworth, OEF

October 2015

O woe is me! My trials continue. Helen’s mother

came to stay and she took exception to my good

looks, so I was banished to Helen’s bedroom. The

down side of that was that I was present at

Morning Prayer for a whole week. No way of

escape!

Not long after Helen’s mother left, a grandson

came to stay- the seven year old I had met in

Carterton. He and Helen visited an exhibition

about Gallipoli - a battle in World War 1 which the

Australia and New Zealand Army Corps lost to the

Turks. When they got home, Elias set up the

battle scene on the lounge floor. Good, I thought,

some fun at last! But then he put me in charge of

the ANZAC force and Big Bear in charge of the

Turks. Putting ME on the losing side, whatever

next?

I am so not suited to community living. Has

anyone got a nice quiet closet for me for next

year?

Brother Rat

Christ has no body on Earth now, but yours:

No hands but yours;

No feet but yours.

Yours are the eyes through which

He is to look out his compassion to the world.

Yours are the feet with which he is to go about doing good.

And yours are the hands with which he is to bless us now.

Brother Rat’s Rule Report


Submissions for the Epiphany 2016 issue of

“Fiddlesticks” are being accepted immediately.

Deadline for submissions is December 15, 2015.

Send submissions to Sister Chris at [email protected]

or snail-mail to:

Christine Petersen, OEF 853 Norwich Ct.

Nekoosa, WI 54457

Thank you!

Hear Ye, Hear Ye!

Words from Teresa of AvilaWords from Teresa of AvilaWords from Teresa of AvilaWords from Teresa of Avila

Hi, to all the members of OEF

As part of the process of developing the OEF

Statutes, we are asking you for proposed

amendments. These proposals should be posted to

the “Second Stage Statutes Forum” in the Cloister

on the OEF Webpage. If this is difficult for you,

please email or mail your proposed amendment to

me or any other member of the committee, and we

will place them on the Cloister for you. As your

proposals come in, the Committee will take them

up as we discern our recommendation for a

modified Draft Statutes for the 2016 Chapter.

The community gathered in Saint Louis was

excited about the draft statutes. The Chapter

accepted the proposal for a Council and the process

to select a Council at the 2016 Chapter. Chapter

embraced the concept and way of discernment

described in the 2015 Draft Statutes.

But much work remains to complete the Statutes.

Many amendments have been offered and

undoubtedly many of you have proposals you

would like to make in shaping the final draft of the

Statutes. The Second Stage Statutes Committee,

constituted at Chapter, met on August 19th: Br.

Bruce James, Sr. Markie, Sr. Magdalena, Br.

Obadiah, Br. Romero and I. We have begun to

take each of the statutes comments posted to the

Cloister prior to Chapter and to address each as a

proposed amendment to the 2015 Draft Statutes. We

are implementing the Chapter determination that

some of the content of the 2015 Draft Statutes should

be moved from the Statutes to a Book of Norms.

The Second Stage Statutes Committee will have a

revolving convener. We have met twice and will be

meeting again on Nov 8th.

So that the membership has time to reflect and pray

prior to the 2016, we have set a goal to have our draft

ready for mid-February. Chapter is Memorial Day

weekend in Indianapolis.

Please post your amendment to the OEF webpage in

the forum thread or email them to me at

[email protected] or mail them to me at Juniper

OEF, 103 Pilling St Apt 3, Brooklyn NY 11207

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Hugs and blessings,

Juniper

Seeking Second Round of Proposed Amendments to the 2015 Draft Statutes


I penned the following reflection upon accepting the

invitation to attend the annual TSSF Chapter in

Chicago as your OEF representative I shared it as an

expression of our solidarity during their "Day of

Discernment".

Their discernment questions included:

"What do you want to do? How do you want to be?"

"What is God saying to the Third Order?"

"Will the Third Order continue as the old order, or is

God inviting us to discover a new pattern?"

Sharing has been deep and rich. I am grateful to be

here.

I could give statistics, but, simply put, we are small

and growing.

I could give facts, but I choose to give flavor.

I could list the many things we've been up to, but I

choose to share this one:

Our decision to discern together -- in prayer -- about

anything and everything, trusting that God will lead

us to who-knows-where to do who-knows-what, who

knows how and God-knows-why. And no matter the

what, where and why, we just wanna be true.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ * ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ * ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ * ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

My husband and I just sent our youngest off to

college. He went on crutches

with a broken leg.

He said he wanted wings...

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ * ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ * ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ * ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

You, TSSF, gave birth to us, the OEF, and sent us off.

We're your kid -- small, but growing. In our youthful

optimism, we want to sing and dance and change the

world. We want to be the best that our churches

gladly are and all that our churches sadly are not:

humble and honest and open, inclusive, inviting,

daring and caring, listening and giving, surrendered

and willing, courageously kind, warm and alive,

faithful and free.

We want to follow Jesus in the way of Francis, in the

way of Clare. We want to kiss the leper, feed the

hungry, save the planet, stop the violence, end the war,

tear down the walls, build the bridges, open the gates,

rebuild the church.

We mean so well yet we fall so hard.

But we get back up and try to walk with our broken leg

as we pray to God and beg for wings . . .

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ * ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ * ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ * ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

By this I mean to say:

We are not a perfect little Order of perfect little mini-

monks. We are -- each and all -- a mix and a mess.

And our beautiful blessed beloved little Order can be as

dysfunctional, distracted and distressed as any.

But we stick it out, and we stick together because

we've caught a glimpse of the humble Christ who walks

among us and shows a different way and a bigger love.

So we look for him. We listen for him. We try to be

still and we try to wait 'til we catch a glimpse of this

humble Christ.

Then we run to catch up. And we try to pitch in. And

we work so hard and we mean so well as we try to

walk with our broken leg to who-knows-where to do

who-knows-what, who-knows-how and God-knows-why

-- 'cause we just wanna be true --

We just wanna be true. Just like you. So just like

you: We stick it out and we stick together. We strain

to see 'til we catch a glimpse of the different way and

the bigger love. Then grabbing hands and holding

tight, we throw down our crutches and we run to catch

up. We roll up our sleeves and we try to pitch in.

And we pray to God

and we beg for wings . . .

Shoshanah Kay, Co-Minister

A Message From Our CoA Message From Our CoA Message From Our CoA Message From Our Co----Minister GeneralMinister GeneralMinister GeneralMinister General

ISSUE 116 F IDDLEST ICKS PAGE 7

F IDDLEST ICKS PAGE 8 ISSUE 116

Regional News Submitted by Kathleen Dlugosz, n/OEF and Sister Chris Petersen, OEF

The OEF Great Lakes Region had our annual

Francistide retreat Sept. 30 - Oct. 3 at Assisi

Heights Spirituality and Retreat Center in

Rochester, MN. In attendance were Sr.

Christine Petersen, Br. Craig Robert Miller,

Br. Keith Downey, Kathleen Dlugosz and

inquirer David Hottinger.

Christine and Kathleen began the retreat with

an extra day at a retreat sponsored by Gloria

Dei Lutheran Church in St. Paul, MN. This

retreat addressed “Spirituality in the Second

Half of Life.” They experienced a sampling of

several different spirituality practices, including

Lectio Divina, Mandalas, Walking Meditation,

Spiritual Inventory, T’ai Chi, Spiritual

Friendship and Journaling. They shared some

of these materials with OEF siblings during the

regional gathering.

At the gathering, some of the siblings attended

an educational session hosted by the Franciscan

Sisters of Assisi Heights titled “ Saintly Lives of

Four Teresas.” The discussion included the lives

of St. Teresa of Avila, Mother Teresa of

Calcutta, St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (aka

Edith Stein) and St. Theresa of Lisieux. The

siblings found it interesting, and Br. Keith and

Sr. Chris each won a door prize!

The agenda for the gathering was very loose by

design. The group decided it was more valuable

to spend time in fellowship than in programmed

activities. Mandalas, games and music were

made available throughout the weekend. We

did some personal sharing about what drew us

to OEF for the benefit of our new inquirer.

We spent some time discussing possible venues

for future retreats and siblings volunteered to

research different sites. We also discussed

making a recommendation to the Servant Team

for a future Chapter to be held at Assisi Heights.

Possible sites for regional gatherings include

Assisi Heights in Rochester, MN; Franciscan

Spirituality Center in La Crosse, WI; UCC retreat

center in Buffalo, MN; OFM Priory in Prior

Lake, MN; the Methodist retreat center in

Williams Bay, WI (near Lake Geneva); and the

Dominican Retreat Center in the Twin Cities,

MN. This region is looking into the Williams Bay

facility or Craig Robert’s home retreat center in

Peoria, IL for next year’s Francistide retreat.

On Friday afternoon, Craig Robert led us in a

discussion of the Encyclical, “Laudato Sii,” by

Pope Francis. We discussed the major points of

the document and committed to encourage the

Order members to participate in the Green Faith

Webinar sponsored by FAN. Br. Craig agreed to

make contact with FAN about how to access this

session. The suggestion was to make it available

at Chapter, 2016 so that the membership can all

be certified.

We had a Eucharist Service in the chapel on

Friday evening with bread made by Kathleen and

using Br. Craig’s special challis and paten from

Ireland. More fellowship Friday evening led to

our departure Saturday morning. A good time

was had by all!

Hi all!

New Novice

History was made in St. Ronan’s Presbyterian Church,

Eastbourne, New Zealand on 3 September 2015, when

Brother Reg Weeks made his novice vow and became a

novice in the OEF. Also gathered to witness the occasion

were Reg’s minister, Michelle Shin, and his spiritual

director, Peter Stuart. In a short ceremony Sister Helen

Bathurst (Sister Kiwi) heard Reg’s vows and presented

him with his Tau cross and his wall San Damiano cross.

Sister Kiwi

***************************************************

With Great Love,

Dear friends and fellow OEFers,

Some of you know that I am a survivor of domestic

violence. A connection to my past has popped up, not my

ex-husband, and I want to assure you that I am in no

immediate danger.

However, I do feel the need to retire from public life to

protect my privacy and the safety of myself and my

family.

I am resigning effective immediately from my Servant

Team role and I have requested that the Team appoint

one of my assistants, Br. Romero as interim DFC until the

Chapter meeting in Indianapolis. I hope you will support

Formation Station


him in prayer and encouragement. In addition, I

request release from my vows so that I can be

relieved of all public connections with the Order.

I prayerfully request that you would allow me to

withdraw via this notice rather than publicly at

Chapter.

Second, I would ask that you never speak of me to

anyone new inside or outside of the Order. Sharing

my description, situation or location or any point of

reference at all could compromise my well-being.

I hope to keep in touch with those who are dear to my

heart but it depends on keeping information private. I

covet your prayers and assure you of mine.

Pace Bene,

Sr. Allegrezza

********************************************

A Message From the Servant Team:

The Servant Team met for discernment this week,

seeking a way to ensure that the important work of

formation would continue. It seemed wise to the Holy

Spirit and to us to call an Interim Formation Director

and to provide guidance that would strengthen the

office in the years to come.

With joy and gratitude, we your Servants

announce that Brother David Luke Hutton has

agreed to serve as Interim Formation Director.

Please hold David Luke and all of us in prayer as he

selects the team of formation assistants best able to

share in this most important work for our Order.

Peace and all good to each of you.

L-R Sister Kiwi, Reg Weeks and Peter Stuart

“A Prayer for the Earth” from the Encyclical, “Laudato Sii,” by Pope Francis

Fiddlesticks

c/o Christine Petersen, OEF

853 Norwich Ct.

Nekoosa, WI 54457

U.S.A.


Touch the hearts of those who look only for gain at the expense of the poor and the earth.

Teach us to discover the worth of each thing, to be filled with awe and contemplation, to recognize that we are profoundly united with every creature as we journey towards your infinite light.

We thank you for being with us each day. Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle for justice, love and peace.

Amen.

All powerful God,

You are present in the whole universe and in the smallest of your creatures.

You embrace with your tenderness all that exists.

Pour out upon us the power of your love, that we may protect life and beauty. Fill us with peace, that we may live as brothers and sisters, harming no one.

O God of the poor, help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth, so precious in your eyes.

Bring healing to our lives, that we may protect the world and not prey on it, that we may sow beauty, not pollution and destruction.

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